Full Agenda Packet
LEISURE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011
7:00 PM
MUNICIPAL BUILDING, 18 N. JACKSON STREET
ROOM 416, FOURTH FLOOR
Use the Wall Street Entrance
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
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2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JULY 12, 2011 MEETING
3. PARKS DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Rock River Trail Initiative
4. RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATE
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Enchanted Forest – October 26 – October 30
Summer Program Participation
School Use Agreement Update
5. MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
6. ADJOURNMENT
IF UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE CONTACT KARLA KING AT
kingk@ci.janesville.wi.us or 755-3030
LEISURE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
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July 12, 2011
7:00 PM
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
FOURTH FLOOR TRAINING ROOM #416
Members Present: Steve Ellis, Lorie Markus, Betty Schwarz, Frank Dmuchowski,
Benjamin Dobson, Sandra Hendricks, Steve Knox, and Dean Paynter
Absent Members: Lynn Jones, Bill Jass, Council member Deb Dongarra-Adams
Guests: Megan Rebout
Staff Present: Tom Presny, Shelley Slapak
Meeting was called to order at 7:02PM by Chairperson Steve Ellis. Roll call was completed by
sign-in sheet.
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APPROVAL OF THE MAY 10, 2011 MEETING MINUTES
A motion was made by Sandy Hendricks and seconded by Lorie Markus to approve the minutes
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of the May 10 meeting. Motion was approved unanimously.
PARKS DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Harmony Grove Park and Playground Improvement –
Tom Presny, Park Director, informed
the Committee members about Harmony Grove Park which is in the process of becoming
developed. Harmony Grove Park is 8.11 acres of parkland between Newville and Kennedy
Road. In order to begin building a park, the neighborhood needs to be at least 50% developed.
There is $35,000 budgeted to develop Harmony Grove Park with the vision having a play
structure, oak trees and open field space.
Sandy Hendricks asked about the process of selling parks and Tom Presny stated three parks
have been sold in the past and they may be looking at more in the future.
Planning and Improvement of Janesville Trails –
New trail acquisitions on the southwest side
of Janesville from an old railroad bed will help link the trails going into Afton and Beloit. By the
end of July the underpass below the interstate by Palmer Park will have new walls. The current
walls were beginning to fall down. This fall there will be work done on the trails by Devil’s
staircase to Arbor Ridge which will in the future link to the Arboretum. Places looked at to
extend the over 26 miles of bike trails are Rockport Park, Parker High School and JSOL.
RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATE
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Summary of Spring Programs –
Shelley Slapak talked about the 30 annual Fishing Derby
partnered with the Blackhawk Muskie Club which included 219 participants and was very
successful. Another spring program included the nature trail walks conducted at Rockport Park
and Riverside Park. The National Alliance of Youth Sports helped sponsor the Hook a Kid on
Golf program which included 8 youth being taught the sport of golf and receiving their own golf
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clubs. Concluding the spring programs were the 5 grade rec night at Marshall Middle School
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and the 6–8 grade outdoor rec night at Dawson field which brought in 500 and 650 children
respectively.
Aquatic Facilities Improvements and New Programs –
Improvements for Riverside wading
pool included re-caulking the pool, raising the pumps so in times of flooding they do not get
ruined, as well as lifeguard safety. Rockport Pool improvements consisted of new shower
curtains in the women’s locker room, new light bulbs, women’s toilets fixed, new faucets in
men’s locker room, and fixing of shower heads in both areas. Next year, due to new regulations,
Rockport pool will need two handicapped accessible entrances into the pool. Purchase of a new
lift will be one, and there will be an inspector coming out to the pool to see if the current steps fit
the code. If not, a ramp will need to be constructed prior to the 2012 summer opening.
Megan Rebout, Recreation Intern, presented comparisons of pool attendance numbers from
2010 to 2011. Due to the shortening of hours, the numbers of 2010 are skewed with 4 counts
and 2011 having 3 counts. New revenue of $477 came from pool scholarships where instead of
the regular $28 for a season pass, families can qualify for a $3 fee per person. A necessary
application must be completed to qualify for the scholarship. In previous years, this has been
free.
Pool closings to date have been due to colder weather, maintenance problems, and cloudy
water which caused low visibility to the lifeguards. When Palmer wading pool closed due to
pump maintenance, there was a lifeguard on site to give directions to the Riverside wading pool,
thus increasing attendance at Riverside. Cloudy water is due to high bather loads, lack of
showering, and old filtering systems. In order to combat cloudy water staff has increased days
of vacuuming, bought a new filter for the vacuum, 6-hour water turnover, and encouraging
participants to shower before entering the pool. Research can be done by asking area pools
how often they vacuum and other suggestions for water clarity.
UPDATE AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ROCKPORT POOL HOURS
City Council voted on extending pool hours to the original 2010 hours. The Committee
discussed ways of increasing revenues verses cutting costs. Instead of cutting hours next year,
staff needs to look at revenue boosters instead of budget cuts. Steve Knox suggested raising
prices because opinion is that Leisure Services fees are underpriced. Suggestions for raising
revenue included senior water walking in the mornings at Rockport, more swim meets, passes
for lap swimming, increased prices, resident versus non-resident fees, creative programming
and bus parking fees at wading pools. Potential research can be done by figuring out where
people come from to go to the pools.
MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Questions regarding a new skate park were brought up with the consensus that a Friends group
needs to raise more money and decide on the vision and location before becoming a reality.
Suggestions on raising revenues on the Tallman House which is part of the budget included
selling the house to a Historical Society, opening up a café inside or bed and breakfast
collaborating with Mercy Hospital, increased parking, and increased marketing to tour
companies.
Challenger Soccer program is looking for a family to host the coaches from August 8-12 who
are coming here from England. In turn the child or neighbor child would be able to attend the
program for free.
Future agenda item should include ways to look at the geese population problem in the parks.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 PM with a motion from Steve Knox and seconded by Frank
Dmuchowski. The motion passed unanimously. Next meeting will be held on Tuesday,
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September 13, 2011.
Submitted by:
Megan Rebout, UWL Recreation Intern